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Friday, July 25, 2014

I stumbled across the idea of five minute Friday awhile ago, but this would be the first time I participated. So here goes:

Finish. What is the idea that comes to mind? A feeling of rest, of peace. A finish, but also a new beginning.....

This past month I have wished for a happy ending to many of things that are going on right now. Many things that need a finish. It has left me feeling tired and worn, with the end no where in sight. But its here, in this time where we can't see the end and the road seems dark around us: it's a time of beauty and faith. It doesn't always look like that. Most times it just seems like shadows and questions, but there is hidden beauty. There is God working in mysterious ways.

Psalm 66:8:12, "Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of His praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; You laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance," (ESV). This is a recording of what God has done in the lives of His people. Yes, they went through trials and burdens and the end seemed nowhere in sight. But they became who they are because of that. They couldn't have gotten to the place of abundance without going through the trials. This is a promise that while things seem their darkest God is there. The Israelites had to go through the desert before they got to the promised land. These are the times that God gently whispers to keep going. It is worth it. Hold on. The finish will be beauty beyond imagining. We need to trust Him. And just keep going.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

There are times in life where it seems you're so storm battered and soul weary that nothing else could possibly happen. When the floods come and the ceiling caves in and suddenly you have nothing else to hold onto. Your hope seems dim and morning seems a long way off. But there is beauty that shines through it all. A light that is only seen if you look hard enough to find it.A light that only shines when the ceiling caves in.....

This was our preview of the storm rolling in.

It was supposed to be a piece of cake, this putting on a new roof. It was supposed to be three, maybe four days of hard works, and then the rest of the time could be spent the way you spend vacations best. Nobody knew what a week at our cabin would end up turning out like:

It all started when the truck delivering the roofing supplies got stuck and then tore up the dirt-well mud-driveway, making it an impassable mess. After re-graveling the driveway, we thought we were back on track. Which in hindsight, is laughable. With the old roof torn off and plywood being the only thing between our living room and the storms that were rolling in, we quickly did all that we could to make sure it was waterproof. It wasn't until three in the morning and we were woken up to someone yelling, "Buckets! Buckets! Buckets!" that we knew it didn't hold. We gathered buckets, pots and pans and when those weren't enough we emptied coolers and garbage cans to help catch the soon running indoor waterfalls. It wasn't long before the ceiling tiles crumbled and fell through, making the bystanders not sure whether to laugh or cry. The rain finally slowed enough that my family plus our neighbor, all in our pajamas, went to re-tarp the roof at 3 AM. Don't go on a roof at 3 AM. It's not as fun or adventurous as it sounds, I promise. Anyway, roof re-tarped and the rain rolls back in, making it clear the tarp did absolutely nothing. We all fell asleep hoping that was the end of it.

The roof was the slowest work of progress ever. It was one misfortune after another, leaving us at the end of the week with the new roof still not put on. You would think that was the end of it. But it wasn't

Our brand new compost toilet overflowed at 2 AM one night. That was fun. And then our TV blew up. No joke, we had the smoke and everything. One minute we're watching Frozen and we're wondering why the room looks as snowy as the TV. Oh, that's why. My brother then decides to run the TV outside without unplugging in. It was a horrible smell.

This week very well could have been worse. Our house wasn't flooded, it was only a cabin after all. But one thing after another and it just starts to tear you down. Worry clouded my vision, and anxiety stole my joy. I was trying to balance fighting family members, stress levels, financial worries and the horrible mud that had surrounded everything. The ceiling caved in and it was more than literal. I kept praying for things to go right, to find a break somewhere (if you know my family, you understand the reason for this prayer), but that blue sky never came. When the ceiling caved in and things looked its darkest, it's then God is saying "Hold onto Me." The night may look like it will never end. The sun may seem like it will never shine again."But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer." -Sam in the Two Towers.

If you're going through the shadows, keep going. Maybe it's something you deem as small, like getting a bad grade, fighting with someone you love. Maybe it's something much bigger, like your house flooding, or a loved one getting sick. Know that God cares about each and every storm. He knows what you're going through and He's whispering to hold on. The sun will shine again.

Let's put our love to action...

About Me

Just an ordinary person with an extraordinary Savior. Each of us has a story, and this is a small part of mine. You'll find alot of Jesus, alot about books and writing, alot of everyday life and all the little things inbetween that make up my story.